The Argosy, March 1907 — page 108: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Ube pee AD Seal Tab Are i. ive AY Oe ; i wij, ‘ 4 hy | <>: 2® 4g, ees | whe, PO ie a Catterson. WHEN SUSPICION STRUCK HARD, BY STEPHEN BRANDISH, Author of “At the Mercy of the Unseen.” A victim of circumstantial evidence, and his thrilling adventures in his pursuit of the man he felt to be really guilty. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. RopertT and Albert Radford, of Bondville, own, respectively, a moribund newspaper and a prosperous drug-store. Robert has just decided to turn his paper into a yellow sheet, when a slight trolley accident sends two evident friends into the drug-store, one of whom drinks an orange phosphate, is immediately taken ill, and blames the beverage. Robert and Albert both go for doctors, leaving the sick man with his friend; when the brothers return they find the man alone and dead. Physicians pronounce death to have. been caused by poisoning. Things seem to point to Albert’s guilt, even more ‘so when it is learned that the dead man is Thomas Bandmann, professional exposer, who is now engaged in exposing the drug and patent-medicine trust. Albert is subjected to a rigorous cross- examination, falls under greater suspicion, and finally Sherwood, the sheriff, comes to warn him that he is to be arrested for murder. _ Radford, convinced that the man who entered his store with Bandmann can throw light on the mystery if he can only be found, disguises himself and starts in pursuit by the trolley route. He ascertains that he goes by the name of Catterson, misses him in one town, and in Worman Center confronts Phil Sherwood, the sheriff, on the piazza of the hotel. Radford starts away; the sheriff comes after him with “ Say, Bert, that don’t go.” Radford puts up a bluff, but feels that in another minute the sheriff will pull off his false beard, when a miracle happens. A rough-looking individial comes up behind and lays a hand on Rad- ford’s shoulder, exclaiming, “ Where did you come from, Benson?” Radford grasps the outstretched hand and cries enthusiastically, “ Well—Dan!” at a venture. The bluff carries, Sherwood seems convinced that he has been mistaken, after all, and leaves Radford with his supposedly old friend, who turns out to be bird of a feather with By judicious questioning, the druggist learns that the other is Pig Ryan, that Pender, and that the latter has gone on to Blackfield, where he may probably be foistd at Dunn’s Hotels Radford.betakes himself ~ thither by the next trolley, and on. being asked for his card has an inspiration. Requesting. the man now known as Catterson 1s really out,” he said. paper and envelope, he writes this message and sends it up to Catterson: to see you at once. Pig Ryan.” CHAPTER IX. CONFRONTED. OME five minutes of anxious waiting dragged along as Radford watched the stairway. Then the boy came into view again, and the druggist walked to the desk. The clerk looked up with a smile. ‘“Mr. Catterson seems to have gone “The boy tells me that he left the key with the maid, who is working in the room.” Radford’s heart sank, metaphorically, at least, with a thud. ‘““Has—he been gone long?” “Only ten or fifteen minutes, I should judge.” *This story began in the January issue of Tue ARGOSY. “ Here, and got ‘“ But he hasn’t left the house?” “Oh, his things is all in the room, mister,’’ the boy put in. ‘And he didn’t leave any word with the maid or any one else as to when he expected to return?” “IT guess not, sir.” The druggist considered for a little. ‘“T’ll stroll around outside for a while and wait for him, I think,” he muttered. “Very well.” “This is the only door to the house, isn’t it?” “The only one Mr. Catterson will be likely to use,” said the clerk. Radford walked out into the sunshine again. He looked about, for a minute or two, The two back numbers will be mailed to any ulcr.ss cn recetpt of 20 ceris. Gomicboo ‘S.com r - » en ee ee a ee, eee oe